The body found in the desperate search for missing Nora Quoirin has been confirmed as the 15-year-old.

In a news conference earlier today, Malaysia ’s deputy police chief Mazlan Mansor said they were 'quite certain' it was the teenager but that Nora's parents were on their way to the mortuary for formal identification.

The tragic discovery was made by a man who phoned the police hotline earlier this afternoon.

He found Nora's body by a waterfall around two kilometres from the accommodation she was staying in with her family.

The 15-year-old, who has special needs, was reported missing on August 4 from an eco-resort in Dusun.

Her father Sebastien said he discovered his daughter missing on Sunday at around 8am after finding a downstairs window wide open.

Around 350 people joined the dense jungle search for Nora.

Today, her parents, an Irish-French couple who live in London and have two younger children, identified the body found as their daughter.

A post mortem report is expected "very soon".

Nora Quoirin, 15, who went missing on a family holiday in Malaysia

The body was found naked and police have refused to rule out 'foul play'.

In a press conference earlier today, Mr Mansor said the area was "quite hilly" and forensic teams and a pathologist were sent to the scene.

"The body resembles Nora but it is yet to be confirmed by the family," he said.

"The body was moved by helicopter to hospital.

"We have informed the family of the news. They are now going to the mortuary to identify the body."

The police chief added later in the press conference: "We are quite, very, certain but are waiting for the family to visit the hospital."

He said further developments would be issued later by local police.

A body brought out of a helicopter in Seremban, Malaysia
Nora's parents Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin speak to officers

A man phoned the police hotline to say he had found the body earlier today. The discovery was made by a waterfall as the search entered its tenth day in the jungle.

Two forensics vans as well as other police vehicles were seen entering the area, which is now sealed off with police tape.

Hours before the body was found volunteer searcher Shirley Yap told how she was going to look around a waterfall. 

Nora Quoirin went missing during a family holiday
Posters were displayed to try and find the missing teenager

She said: "We had heard she was excited about seeing a waterfall when she arrived in the resort.

"We are going to look around that area and follow the stream down the mountain."

It is believed the waterfall is an hour and 20 minute walk away from the Dusun Rainforest Resort.

A police vehicle seen at the resort where the teenager went missing from

The discovery comes a day after Nora's family offered a £10,000 reward for any information leading to her return. 

The money had been donated by an anonymous Belfast business.

Nora's family had said they believe the teen, who was born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly, was abducted from their cottage at the resort they were staying at, about an hour south of Kuala Lumpur.

But Malaysian officials have said there was "no proof" she was kidnapped, though they were not ruling out any possibilities.

Police believe she wandered off and got lost in the jungle.


"She has been vulnerable since the day she was born.
